A government school teacher in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir has been arrested for allegedly beating a class 10 student for writing a religious slogan on a classroom board. The teacher, Farooq Ahmad, was arrested on Saturday after a complaint was filed by the student's father, Kuldeep Singh. The principal of the school, Mohd Hafiz, is also accused of assaulting the student, but he is absconding.
The student is undergoing treatment at a hospital. A three-member committee has been constituted by the Deputy Commissioner of Kathua, Rakesh Minhas, to probe the incident. The committee will be headed by the Sub Divisional Magistrate Bani and will also include the Deputy Chief Education Officer Kathua and the Principal Government Higher Secondary School Kharote.
”The principal is absconding and a search is going on to arrest him, while further investigation is underway,” a senior police officer said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within two days. The protesters alleged that the student was thrashed by the teacher and the principal for writing a religious slogan on the classroom board. They also demanded the arrest of the principal.
“…the committee members are directed to inquire into the matter and submit the fact finding report along with specific comments and recommendations to this office within two days positively in order to proceed further in the matter. Moreover, the committee is also directed to fix the responsibility against the culprit regarding the incident,” Minhas said in an order.
The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice Act and are investigating the matter.
The incident has sparked outrage in the region and has raised questions about the safety of students in government schools.
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